950A: Calcium Fluorescence System
The 950A calcium fluorescence system enables physiology researchers to easily measure intracellular calcium along with tissue length, force and sarcomere length. Powerful twitch-based software controls all instruments and collects and analyzes the data. The entire system can be automated to perform entire experiments in a repeatable fashion.
The 955A FluoroTrack software controls the IonOptix fluorescence photometry equipment and collects the fluorescence signals from the photomultiplier. Test protocols written using the 600A Protocol Editor control the entire experiment including the stimulator, high-speed length controller, force transducer, apparatus, fluorescence equipment and sarcomere length measurement. Data collection from all of these instruments is stored in a single time-stamped file. This highly integrated system allows a single computer to control and store data from many different instruments including those from Aurora Scientific, IonOptix and Sutter (DG-4 light source).
Powerful Twitch Analysis provides an easy-to-use analysis and data export capability. Length, Force, SL, Ratio and Calcium data streams can be analyzed to provide average twitch data and statistics.
Components
955A: FluoroTrack – Calcium Fluorescence Software
960A: FluoroDAQ Data Acquisition Controller
961A: HyperSwitch Dual Excitation Light Source
962A: Cell Framing Adapter
962B: CFA Option D: Dual Emission
963A: Photomultiplier Subsystem
964-L: Microscope Components – Leica
964-N: Microscope Components – Nikon
964-O: Microscope Components – Olympus
964-Z: Microscope Components – Zeiss
965A Option S: 75W Xenon Light Source
Stories of Success
950A – Software Module Helps Synchronize Cutting Edge Data In Myocyte Research
CHALLENGE
In late 2013 Dr. Chris Ward of the University of Maryland was working on improving experimental techniques for measuring force, SL and calcium release in single, living myocytes from the FDB muscle. Dr. Ward had been a long time user of our equipment and was already using our 600A and HVSL software programs to record force and SL. However, he had been using another lab built solution to measure calcium and was searching for a way to easily synchronize all three measurements.
SOLUTION
The Aurora Scientific FluoroTrack software proved to be the missing piece. FluoroTrack allowed real-time monitoring of calcium transients and integrated seamlessly with the existing HVSL and 600A programs. In addition, Aurora Scientific made minor customizations to be compatible with Dr. Ward’s existing light source and calcium measurement instruments.
RESULTS
After making these configurations Dr. Ward was able to begin collecting synchronized data almost immediately. This integration provided a single, time-stamped file for easy collection and analysis of force, SL and calcium from FDB cells. The data collected were presented at a Biophysical society meeting some short 2 months later and has gone on to be published. The system is still an integral part of Dr. Ward’s research and the software continues to evolve and be improved thanks to feedback from Dr. Ward’s lab and other researchers.
Select References
- Kerr, Jaclyn P. et al. “Detyrosinated microtubules modulate mechanotransduction in heart and skeletal muscle.” Nature communications (2015) DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9526
- Bagni, M. Angela et al “The effects of fatigue and oxidation on contractile function of intact muscle fibers and myofibrils isolated from the mouse diaphragm.” Scientific Reports (2019) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39353-5
- Kazmierczak K. et al. “Slow-twitch skeletal muscle defects accompany cardiac dysfunction in transgenic mice with a mutation in the myosin regulatory light chain.” The FASEB Journal (2019) DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801402R
- Robbins N. et al. “Probenecid Improves Cardiac Function in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction In Vivo and Cardiomyocyte Calcium Sensitivity In Vitro.” Journal of the American Heart Association (2018) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.117.007148
- Ijpma, Gijs et al. “Human trachealis and main bronchi smooth muscle are normoresponsive in asthma.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2015) DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201407-1296OC
- McNamara, James W. et al. “Cardiac myosin binding protein-C phosphorylation regulates the super-relaxed state of myosin.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2019) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1821660116
- Norden, Diana M. et al “Tumor growth increases neuroinflammation, fatigue and depressive-like behavior prior to alterations in muscle function.” Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2015) DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.07.013
- Tangney, Jared R. et al. “Timing and magnitude of systolic stretch affect myofilament activation and mechanical work.” American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (2014) DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00233.2014
- Raval, Kunil K. et al. “Pompe disease results in a Golgi-based glycosylation deficit in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.” The Journal of Biological Chemistry (2015) DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M114.628628
- Heden et al. “Mitochondrial PE potentiates respiratory enzymes to amplify skeletal muscle aerobic capacity” Science Advances (2019) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax8352
Related Products
600A: Real-Time Muscle Data Acquisition and Analysis System
The 600A Digital Controller serves to integrate components and provide the researcher control of system operations, data collection and signal analysis.
Learn More
801C: Small Intact Muscle Apparatus – Microscope Mountable
Highly integrated apparatus, optimally designed to test small, intact muscle contractility
Learn More
901D: High-Speed Video Sarcomere Length
A simple, turn-key system for measuring sarcomere spacing in isolated muscle preparations.
Learn MoreSpecifications
| Software Specifications | 950A |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Linux – RTAI, real-time |
| Companion Software | 600A, 602A, 802D, 820A, 900B, 901C |
| Shutter Control | Remote control of shutter |
| Stimulation Control | Manual or Automatic stimulation control – frequency (Hz. or BPM), pulse width, pulse duration |
| Data Channels Recorded | Numerator, Denominator, Ratio, Ca2+, Length, Force, SL, Stimulation Timing |
| Background Light Measurement | Simple, easy-to-use measurement of background light level |
| Scrolling Data Display | Real-time data output of chosen channels. Displays up to 4 hours of data – zoom function, time base control, pause function |
| Data Tags | Create data tags with mouse or F-key, create tags during data collection or after, place tags at chosen time |
| Twitch Analysis Displays | Time Series, Twitch Based, Data Records in table view, Tags in table view, Tags shown on Time Series and Twitch Based views |
| Twitch Analysis | Easily choose twitches of interest Twitch Analysis – calculates average twitch parameters, calculates twitch statistics: baseline, peak, peak ht, peak %, peak ht%, max dX/dt, min dX/dt, T dX/dt max, T dX/dt min, T peak, T 10% rise, T 50% rise, T 90% rise, dT 10- 90%, T 90% fall, T 50% fall, T 10% fall, dT 90-10% |
| Export Analysis | Creates ASCII data files includes: time series, twitches, averages, statistics |